IRISH - COMPLAINTS OVER ACCCESS TO STATE SERVICES

The ombudsman for the Irish language, An Coimisinéir Teanga, has received over 600 complaints from people who have encountered difficulties in accessing State services through Irish during the year.

Among those governments departments found lacking is the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, which acts as a Irish language legislation watchdog for the government. Other departments that have has compalints made about them by members of the general public are Department of the Environment, Heritage & Local Government, the Department of Social & Family Affairs, the Department of Justice, Equality & Law Reform, the Department of Education & Science, and the Department of Transport.

In addition, a number of other organisations were also found in breach of legislation including the Heritage Council, the Equality Authority, the Health Service Executive, Iarnród Éireann, the National Roads Authority and the Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences.

Following the news reports, the General Secretary (GS) of the Celtic League has written to the police ombudsman in Ireland asking them to follow up a letter written by the GS in January 2009 to Commissioner Fachtna Murphy of Garda Síochána na hÉireann, as part of the League's police force survey in the Celtic countries. The aim of the survey is to ascertain the committment by the police forces that serve the respective Celtic languages and cultures by the police forces that serve the Celtic countries.

To date answers have been received from all the police services with the exception of Garda Síochána na hÉireann and Devon and Cornwall Police Constabulary. The League is currently liaising with the Breizh Branch of the League before enaging with any of the police forces that serve Brittany.

«Dermot Gallagher

Commission Chairman

Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission

12/05/09

Dear Dermot Gallagher

Garda Síochána na hÉireann: Irish language and cultural commitment

We were concerned to read reports recently that a large number of government departments and organisations have been found to be in breach of Irish language legislation this year.

On 22nd January 2009 the Celtic League wrote to Commissioner Fachtna Murphy of Garda Síochána na hÉireann, as part of a general survey of police forces that serve the Celtic countries, to determine its commitment to the Irish language. Unfortunately we have not yet received a response from Commissioner Murphy's office, despite sending a further copy and a reminder of the letter on 9th April. We read that the Department of Justice, Equality & Law Reform was among the government departments that was found to be in breach of legislation and are therefore concerned that Garda Síochána na hÉireann may be yet another organisation not fulfilling its language obligations.

We are consequently writing to you to request that you follow up the attached letter with Commissioner Fachtna Murphy or another suitable representative of Garda Síochána na hÉireann, asking that they respond to our questions.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely

Rhisiart Tal-e-bot General Secretary Celtic League

CC

Seán Ó Cuirreáin, An Coimisinéir Teanga

Minister Dermot Ahern, Department of Justice, Equality & Law Reform»

J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League

12/05/09